Miguel Cabrera at 30: Looking like Hammerin' Hank

Apr. 18, 2013
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Last season Miguel Cabrera became the first player to win the Triple Crown since 1967. / Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

by John Lowe, USA TODAY Sports

by John Lowe, USA TODAY Sports

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SEATTLE -- Miguel Cabrera turns 30 years old today.

The Detroit Tigers third baseman exits his 20s as the best hitter in baseball today for the combination of power, batting average and run production. He has a chance by the end of his career to establish himself as the best hitter of his era and one of the best hitters all-time.

Last season he became the first player to win the Triple Crown since 1967.

Here is a comparison of Cabrera's numbers with Hank Aaron's when he turned 30.

Batting average: Aaron .320, Cabrera .318.

Home runs: Aaron 342, Cabrera 323.

RBI: Cabrera 1,140, Aaron 1,121.

Aaron played until he was 42. The Hall of Famer ranks second all-time in homers (755, behind Barry Bonds) and first in RBI (2,297, comfortably ahead of Babe Ruth).

Cabrera said he's not thinking about what he has accomplished. "I just want to keep playing," he said.